Compare towns
Lancaster vs Ogunquit vs Oxford vs Upton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Oxford has the most affordable homes ($375k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Lancaster | Ogunquit | Oxford | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,606 |
1,379Lowest |
13,385Highest |
8,189 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42±2.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Oxford and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 67% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$103,862±$10kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Upton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$374,900±$18kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
— | $1,177±$142 17% below U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 132% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,622 48% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±15.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Oxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #145 of 282 in MA | — | #245 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Oxford | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Oxford High | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.